Gripping mitt



y 1943 w. DA'NTQLAN 2,319,390.

GRIPPING MITT 7 Filed April 4, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 18, 1943 w. DANTOLAN GRIPPING MIIT Filed April 4, 1941 3 Sheets-She et 2 May 18 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 lbw/Iron 'MLA ED Dan/ray:

: w. DANiTOLAN 2,319,390

GRIPPING- M'IIT Filed A ril 4, 1941 Patented May 18, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE i Claims.

' This invention relates to a gripping mitt and has special reference to a device for wear on the hand of auser for aiding in the'gripping thereby of agolf club or the like;

More particularly, this invention relates to a gripping: mitt comprising a main body portion formed of a flexible material and being adapted to overlie the back of a hand of a-user and a strap associated with the main body portion for forming a loop portion to receive ingripping relation therewith the shaft of a golf club or the like, there being means secured to the main body portion for removably securing the main'body portion in a position on the hand.

In order to play a, shot with a golf club whether driving off a tee or in putting or in using any of the intermediate clubs, it is necessary for thehead of the golf club to be held steady thus requiring a very firm grip on the club shaft. It is not unusual, particularly at the beginning of a golfing season, to blister the hand or at least form painful calluses thereon due to the grip necessary to be applied to the shaft of the club. The present invention contemplates obviating the necessity for tiring" the hands and forming blisters orcalluses thereon by relieving thepressure necessary to be appliedto the shaft of the club in making any andall shots necessary for the play of the game.

In the same above connection, the head of the golf club needs not only be held rigid" in striking the ball but also must be held me particular. relation with respect to the ball, the face of the club head meeting th'e ball at a desired angle. The present invention also contemplates the adjustment of the shaft of the club in the hand of the user so as to assist in predetermining the angularity of the face of the club head with respect to the ball. Once the position of angularity is determined the same angularity may be maintained for all subsequent shots.

The gripping mitt of the present invention is not only useful for assisting in the'gripping. of a golf club, but also, for example, in holding a fishing rod or in holding shafts or rods of like character. In playing a game fish it is sometimes necessary to' grip a pole over a. substantial period of time thus cramping the hand and otherwise causing undue exertion thereof. The present invention contemplates relieving the tension necessarily applied to the ro'dby the hand.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a gripping mitt of the character indicated above for wear on the hand of a user for assisting in the'grippin'g thereby of a shaft of a golf drawings, in which latter:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the gripping mitt embodying the features of this invention; i

Fig. 2 is a rear elevational view of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of a hand having the device of this invention worn thereon and showinga fragmentary portion of a golf club in position to be gripped by the mitt in the hand;

Fig. 4 is an elevational view of a blank from which the mitt is formed;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged plan sectional view partially in elevation taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 6 is aplan sectional view taken on the line 5-6 of Fig. 2.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the gripping mitt embodying the features of this invention is shown as comprising a main body portion Ill which is formed of a flexible material such as leather, fabric, or the like, the main body portion being. adapted to overlie the back of a hand ll of a user. The main body portion is provided with pockets. l2 which extend longitudinally on each side of the main body portion [0,.the pockets being. formed by folding the side edges l3 of the blank inwardly toward each other on the linesof fold M, as shown in Fig. 4.

The adjacent edges of the folded portions 13 are secured together by stitching [5. Since the main body portion is substantially V-shaped, the upper ends of the pockets l2 are set out by stitches It, the pockets meetingat the. lower end of the V-shaped main body portion in a common opening.

A strap is associated with the main body portion l0 and-is preferably slidably disposed in the pockets, an intermediate portion of the strap extending out ofone of the ends of the pockets 12 to form a loop portion l1 and to receive in gripping relation the shaft. of a golf club or the like. The strap passes through the pockets. l2 from the loop portion "and extends out of the other ends of the pockets forming a wrist encircling portion I8.

In order that the strap be adjustable for encircling the wrist and for gripping the shaft of the golf club, the strap, of course, is freely slidable in the pockets and one end thereof extending from one of the pockets is provided with a buckle I9 for receiving and gripping in a fixed adjusted relation the other end of the strap extending from the other pocket. It may be desirable, in order that the strap be of sufiicient length to encircle wrists and golf clubs of various diameters, to provide a substantially long strap. In order, therefore, to prevent the free end of the strap from in any way obstructing use of the mitt, a snap fastener 29 may be provided on the strap for engaging a co-operating member on the main body portion.

Means is secured to the main body portion for co-operation with the wrist encircling portion l8 of the strap for removably securing the main body portion l on th hand. Such means may preferably comprise elongated extensions 2| formed preferably integrally with the main body portion as shown in Fig. 4. The elongated extensions are preferably formed arcuately in order that, when they are formed into loop portions 22, they will conveniently and comfortably fit the flexed fingers of the hand of the user as the fingers are extended therethrough.

The extensions 2| pass through an opening 23 in the main body portion and engage a buckle 24, the buckle 24 clamping the strap and holding the loops in a predetermined adjusted relation. In the instance of the drawing a prong-type buckle 24 is shown and the free ends of the extensionsZl are provided with a series of holes through which the prong of the buckle may extend in various positions. It is, of course, to be understood that various types of fasteners or buckles may be employed for accomplishing the adjustable gripping of a strap for predetermining the size of the loops 22.

The gripping mitt, as above stated, is adapted to overlie the back of a hand of a user. There are two loop portions 22 formed and these portions are adapted to receive the middle two fingers of one of the hands. The loop portion I l of the adjustable strap extends through the common opening for the pockets I2, the opening being adjacent the meeting point for the loops 22.

After the mitt is in position on the hand with the middle fingers extending through the loops 22, the handle or the shaft of the golf club may be extended through the loop I l and the strap drawn through the pockets 12 so as to grip the shaft. The wrist encircling portion of the strap is then adjusted and the mitt is in condition for use. The shaft or handle of the golf club is in the palm of the hand while the mitt is on the other or back side of the hand. Tension on the strap pulls the club against the palm of the hand, thereby relieving unnecessary pressure in holding the golf club and predetermining the position with respect thereto.

The device is particularly desirable for the use of beginners in the game as improper gripping of the club and loosening of the grip at any stage of the stroke may be eliminated. The common tendency to loosen the grip at the top of the swing is entirely overcome. Positive control of the golf club under any physical handicaps or climatic conditions, such for instance as rain, heat, or cold, is made possible. The cotton webbing reacts favorably to the leather main body of the device to provide an effective grip under all conditions.

While but a single embodiment of this invention is herein shown and described, it is to be understood that various modifications thereof may be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention and therefor the same is only to be limited by the scope of the prior art and the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A gripping mitt comprising a main body portion formed of a flexible material and being adapted to overlie the back of the hand of a user, longitudinally extending pockets in said main body portion, a strap slidably disposed in said pockets and having an extending portion thereof forming a loop portion to receive in gripping relation therewith the shaft of a golf club or the like, and means secured to said main body portion for removably securing said main body portion in position on the hand.

2. A gripping mitt comprising a main body portion formed of a flexible material and being adapted to overlie the back of the hand of a user, longitudinally extending pockets in said main body portion, a strap slidably disposed in said pockets and having an extending portion thereof forming a loop portion to receive in gripping relation therewith the shaft of a golf club or the like, said strap having a second extending portion for encircling the wrist of the user, and means secured to said main body portion for co-operation with said wrist-encircling portion of said strap for removably securing said main body portion in position on the hand.

3. A gripping mitt comprising a main body portion formed of a flexible material and being adapted to overlie the back of the hand of a user, pockets extending longitudinally on each side of said main body portion, a strap slidably disposed in said pockets With an intermediate portion of the strap extending out of one of the ends of said pockets forming a loop portion to receive in gripping relation therewith the shaft of a golf club or the like and the end portions of the strap extending out of the other ends of the pockets for encircling the wrist of the user, and means secured to said main body portion for co-operation-with said wrist encircling portion of said strap for removably securing said main body portion in position on the hand.

i. A gripping mitt comprising two loops for embracing the adjacent fingers of the hand of a user, a body portion connecting said loops together at the back of the hand, and a straplike member. forming a loop between said finger loops to embrace a golf club in the palm of the hand, said member being slidably mounted in said body portion to tighten said loop on said club, and means to secure the free end of said member to the wrist of the user.

5. A gripping mitt comprising a body portion to overlie the back of the hand of a user, said body portion terminating in two loops to respec tively embrace adjacent fingers of the hand of a user, a strap having one end secured to said body portion, said strap forming a loop extending between said finger loops to form a third loop for embracing a golf club in the palm of the hand, and means to adjustably secure the free end of said strap at the Wrist of the user.

WILFRED DA NTOLAN. 

